Detangling hairbrush

ABSTRACT

A hairbrush includes features that enable an individual to firmly grip and maintain a firm grip on the hairbrush as it is used to brush tangled and/or thick hair. Such features may include an indentation in a back surface of a head of the hairbrush and one or more recesses in sides of the periphery of head at locations adjacent to a base of the head (i.e., near a handle of the hairbrush). Methods of grasping such a hairbrush are also disclosed. In addition, hairbrushes with bristles that oscillate, vibrate, rotate, or otherwise move to facilitate their movement through tangled hair are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

A claim for priority to the Feb. 23, 2022 filing date of U.S.Provisional Pat. Application No. 63/312,836, titled DETANGLING HAIRBRUSH (“the ‘836 Provisional Application”), the entire disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to hairbrushes and, more specifically,to hairbrushes that detangle hair. Even more specifically, thisdisclosure relates to hairbrushes with features that enable anindividual to firmly grip and maintain a firm grip on the hairbrush asit is used to brush tangled and/or thick hair. This disclosure alsorelates to hairbrushes with bristles that oscillate, vibrate, rotate, orotherwise move to facilitate their movement through tangled hair.

SUMMARY

A hairbrush according to this disclosure may be used to brush tangledhair and, thus, to detangle hair. Thus, the hairbrush may be referred toas a “detangling hairbrush.” The hairbrush includes a head and a handle.The head may include a front surface, from which bristles protrude, aback surface opposite from the front surface, and a periphery betweenthe front surface and the back surface. The head also includes a base,from which handle protrudes. The hairbrush (e.g., its head, its handle,etc.) may have a shape that enables the hairbrush to be firmly grippedand precisely controlled, yet comfortable to hold and use, even whilepulling the hairbrush through tangled hair.

A head of the hairbrush may be shaped to facilitate gripping of thehairbrush. For example, the head may include one or more indentations inits back surface and/or in its periphery. In a specific embodiment, thehead may include an indentation in its back surface, adjacent to thebase of the head and, thus, adjacent to the handle. Such an indentationmay have a shape that enables it to receive one finger (e.g., an indexfinger) or two fingers (e.g., an index finger and a middle finger) of ahand of an individual holding the handle of the hairbrush, regardless ofwhether the individual holds the handle with her right hand or her lefthand. In addition, a recess may be defined in at least one side edge ofthe periphery of the head of the hairbrush at a location adjacent to thehandle, where the recess may receive and enable the individual tocomfortably wrap a finger (e.g., an index finger, a middle finger whenthe index finger is positioned over the back surface of the head (e.g.within an indentation in the back surface), a thumb, etc.) around theside edge of the head of the hairbrush. A transition between the base ofthe head and the handle may have a shape that enables it to comfortablyreceive the individual’s middle finger so the individual can wrap herindex finger around the base of the head and rest a tip of her indexfinger against the base of the back of the head. A middle portion of thehandle may be enlarged to comfortably receive a ring finger and a pinkieof the individual. The handle may be formed from a soft material thatcan be comfortably and securely gripped by the individual’s hand (e.g.,her ring finger, her pinkie, her thumb, and, optionally, her middlefinger).

In another aspect, a hairbrush of this disclosure may include detanglingbristles that move in a manner that that facilitates their passagethrough tangled hair. The detangling bristles of the hairbrush may movein a manner that facilitates their ability to be pulled, or slide,through tangled hair, thereby detangling or smoothing the tangled hair.Without limitation the detangling bristles may vibrate, oscillate,rotate, and/or otherwise move in a manner that enables them to bepulled, or slide, through tangled hair more readily than passivebristles.

In some embodiments, a hairbrush according to this disclosure may alsoinclude conventional, passive bristles.

Methods of using a hairbrush to brush thick or tangled hair may includefirmly gripping the hairbrush and maintaining a firm grip on thehairbrush as it is used to brush the thick and/or tangled hair. Thehairbrush may be firmly gripped by placing one or more fingers inindentations and/or recesses of a head of the hairbrush while holding ahandle of the hairbrush. As an example, an index finger may be placed inan indentation in a back surface of the head of the hairbrush andpressed against the head. A portion of a middle finger (e.g., a distalphalanx, or third bone from the hand, of the middle finger) may placedwithin a recess in a side edge of a periphery of the head of thehairbrush. The pinkie and ring finger may be wrapped around a middleportion of the handle. The thumb may be pressed against a transitionbetween the handle and head of the hairbrush or placed in and pressedagainst another recess in an opposite side edge of the periphery of thehead of the hairbrush. With the hairbrush held in this manner, theindividual may use the hairbrush to brush her hair while maintaining thegrip as bristles of the hairbrush pass through thick and/or tangledhair.

In some embodiments, at least some bristles of a hairbrush may vibrateor oscillate relative to longitudinal axes of the bristles to facilitatemovement of the bristles through hair (e.g., thick and/or tangled hair,etc.).

Other aspects of the disclosed subject matter, as well as features andadvantages of the disclosed subject matter, should become apparent tothose of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of thepreceding disclosure, the ensuing description, the accompanyingdrawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a hairbrushaccording to this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the embodiment of the hairbrush shown inFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the embodiment of the hairbrush shown inFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a rear plan view of the embodiment of the hairbrush shown inFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of the hairbrushshown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the embodiment of the hairbrush shown inFIG. 1 ;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of the hairbrush shown inFIG. 1 ;

FIGS. 8 and 9 show an example of a way in which an individual may graspthe hairbrush with her hand, with FIG. 8 showing the back of theindividual’s hand and the back of the hairbrush and FIG. 9 showing thefront of the hairbrush and the front of the individual’s hand;

FIGS. 10 and 11 show an example of a way in which an individual maygrasp the hairbrush with her hand, with FIG. 10 showing the back of theindividual’s hand and the back of the hairbrush and FIG. 11 showing thefront of the hairbrush and the front of the individual’s hand;

FIG. 12 illustrates a housing of another embodiment of a hairbrush;

FIG. 13 depicts a back of a head of the embodiment of the hairbrushshown in FIG. 12 ;

FIG. 14 shows a rear portion of the handle of the embodiment of thehairbrush shown in FIG. 12 ;

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the embodiment of the hairbrush shown inFIGS. 12-14 , with at least some detangling bristles, which may move(e.g., vibrate, oscillate, rotate, etc.) in a manner that enables themto be pulled, or slide, through tangled hair more readily than passivebristles, showing various components of the hairbrush;

FIG. 16 shows a movable base of the head of the embodiment of thehairbrush shown in FIG. 12 ; and

FIG. 17 illustrates a front portion of the head of the embodiment of thehairbrush shown in FIG. 12 ;

FIG. 18 depicts passive bristles of the embodiment of the hairbrushshown in FIG. 12 ;

FIG. 19 illustrates all of the bristles, including the detanglingbristles and the passive bristles, of the embodiment of the hairbrushshown in FIG. 12 ; and

FIG. 20 provides an assembly view of electrical contacts and batterieswithin the handle of the embodiment of the hairbrush shown in FIG. 12 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-7 depict an embodiment of a hairbrush 10 according to thisdisclosure. The hairbrush 10 includes a head 20 and a handle 60, as wellas a transition 40 between the head 20 and the handle 60. In addition,bristles 80 of the hairbrush 10 are carried by and protrude from thehead 20.

The head 20 of the hairbrush 10 includes a front 22, a back surface 24,and a periphery 26 between the front 22 and the back surface 24. Thebristles 80 protrude from the front 22 of the head 20.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the back surface 24 of the head 20 mayinclude an indentation 30. The indentation 30 may be located adjacent toa base 28 of the head 20. A location and a configuration (e.g., a shape,a depth, etc.) of the indentation 30 may enable the indentation toreceive one or more fingers (e.g., an index finger, a middle finger,etc.) of an individual’s hand. In some embodiments, the configuration ofthe indentation 30 may enable it to receive fingers on either of anindividual’s hands (i.e., fingers on a right hand or a left hand); thus,the indentation 30 may be useful regardless of which hand an individualuses to hold, or grasp, the hairbrush 10.

The periphery 26 of the head 20 may include side edges 26 s, a top edge26 t, and base edges 26 b. The base edges 26 b may be located on eachside of the transition 40. The periphery 26 may include one or morerecesses 35 with locations and shapes that enable them to be engaged bya portion of an individual’s finger (e.g., an index finger, a middlefinger (e.g., a distal phalanx of a middle finger, etc.), a thumb,etc.). As illustrated, the head 20 and, thus, the hairbrush 10 includestwo recesses 35. Each recess 35 may be located slightly beyond thetransition 40, between a base edge 26 b and a corresponding side edge 26s of the periphery 26 and have a concave shape.

The base 28 of the head 20 may be continuous with the transition 40 fromthe head 20 to the handle 60. The transition 40 may include concavelycurved sides 42 that are continuous with the periphery 26 of the head 20and extend to an upper portion 62 of the handle 60.

In addition to the upper portion 62, the handle 60 includes a middleportion 64 and a lower portion 66. The middle portion 64 is on anopposite side of the upper portion 62 from the transition 40. The lowerportion 66 is on an opposite side of the middle portion 64 from theupper portion 62. The handle 60 may also include a base 68 at a bottomof the lower portion 66.

The middle portion 64 of the handle 60 may be enlarged (e.g., have alarger cross-sectional diameter, taken transverse to a length of thehandle 60, etc.) relative to the upper portion 62 and lower portion 66of the handle 60. Such a configuration may provide a recess 63 betweenthe transition 40 and the middle portion 64, which may accommodate anindividual’s ring finger as she grasps the handle 60 and head 20 of thehairbrush 10 with her hand. The enlarged middle portion 64 of the handlemay receive the distal phalanx and, optionally, the medial phalanx ofthe individual’s pinkie as she grasps the handle 60 and head 20 of thehairbrush with her hand.

In some embodiments, the handle 60 and, optionally, the head 20 of thehairbrush 10 may be coated with a so-called “soft-touch” material, or asoft-touch plastic coating. Such a coating may impart the handle 60 and,optionally, the head 20 with a rubbery feel.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show an example of a way in which an individual may graspthe hairbrush 10 with her hand H. As illustrated by FIG. 8 , theindividual may place her index finger I in the indentation 30 in theback surface 24 of the head 20 of the hairbrush 10. Her middle finger M(e.g., the distal phalanx of her middle finger M) may be placed within arecess 35 to one side of the indentation 30, while her thumb T may beplaced within another recess 35 to the opposite side of the indentation30. As illustrated in FIG. 9 , her ring finger R may wrap around thetransition 40 and/or the upper portion 62 of the handle 60 and restwithin a recess 63 to the side of the upper portion 62. Her pinkie P maywrap around the middle portion 64 of the handle 60. The ring finger Rand pinkie P may rest on a front side of the handle 60.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show another example of a way in which an individual maygrasp the hairbrush 10 with her hand H. As illustrated by FIG. 10 , theindividual may place her index finger I in the recess 35 on one side ofthe periphery 26 of the head 20 of the hairbrush 10, while her thumb Tmay be placed within another recess 35 to the opposite side of theperiphery 26. As illustrated in FIG. 11 , her middle finger M and herring finger R may wrap around the transition 40 and/or the upper portion62 of the handle 60 and rest within a recess 63 to the side of the upperportion 62. Her pinkie P may wrap around the middle portion 64 of thehandle 60. The ring finger R and pinkie P may rest on a front side ofthe handle 60.

Turning now to FIGS. 12-20 , an embodiment of a hairbrush 10′ is shownthat includes a head 20′, a handle 60′, and a transition 40′ between thehead 20′ and the handle 60′. In addition, the hairbrush 10′ includesbristles 80′ protruding from the head 20′ of the hairbrush 10′. Thebristles 80′ include detangling bristles 82′, which may actively move.The bristles 80′ may also include bristles 84′ which do not activelymove.

FIG. 12 illustrates a front 22′ of the head 20′, from which the bristles80′, including the detangling bristles 82′ and any passive bristles 84′,protrude. FIG. 13 shows a back 24′ of the head 20′. FIG. 14 shows a backportion 69′ of the handle 60′.

The head 20′, transition 40′, and handle 60′ of the hairbrush 10′ mayhave any suitable configuration. Without limiting the scope of thisdisclosure, the head 20′, transition 40′, and handle 60′ may beconfigured (i.e., include features, have shapes, etc.) similar to or thesame as the head 20, transition 40, and handle 60 of the embodiment ofhairbrush 10 shown in and described in reference to FIGS. 1-7 .

FIG. 15 provides an exploded view of the hairbrush 10′. Morespecifically, from left to right, FIG. 15 shows the handle 60′ and itsparts and contents, including a battery 70′, a back portion 69′ of thehandle 60′, another battery 70′, a front portion 61′ of the handle 60′,and electrical contacts 72′. An embodiment of an arrangement of thebatteries 70′ and electrical contacts 72′ within the handle 60′ isdepicted by FIG. 20 .

FIG. 15 also shows the head 20′ and its parts and contents, including aback portion 29′ of the head 20′, electronics 74′, a motor 76′ thatoscillates, a movable base 78′ coupled to and movable by the motor 76′,detangling bristles 82′ associated with (e.g., carried by, etc.) themovable base 78′, a stationary base 79′, and passive bristles 84′carried by the stationary base 79′ at locations laterally around themovable base 78′.

FIG. 16 provides another view of the movable base 78′ and illustrates anembodiment of a manner in which the movable base 78′ may be associatedwith the head 20′ of the hairbrush 10′. Specifically, the movable base78′ may comprise an elongated element arranged along a length or aheight of the head 20′, positioned somewhat centrally (at leastlaterally) at or adjacent to the front 24′ of the head 20′. Asillustrated by FIG. 17 , the stationary base 79′ may be positionedlaterally around an outer periphery of the movable base 78′. FIG. 18shows passive bristles 84′ protruding from the stationary base 79′,while FIG. 19 additionally shows detangling bristles 82′ protruding fromthe movable base 78′.

The one or more batteries 70′ may comprise any suitable type of batterywith any suitable voltage. Each battery 70′ may comprise a disposablebattery or a rechargeable battery. Without limitation, each battery 70′may comprise a 1.5 V AA battery, a 1.5 V AAA battery, a button battery,or the like. In embodiments where the hairbrush 10′ includes a pluralityof batteries 70′, the batteries 70′ may be organized in any suitablearrangement. For example, the batteries 70′ may be arranged end-to-end,as shown in FIGS. 15 and 20 . Alternatively, the batteries 70′ may beplaced side-to-side. The batteries 70′ may be readily accessible andreplaceable (e.g., by removing the front portion 61′ or back portion 69′of the handle 60′ from a remainder of the handle 60′, etc.). The battery70′ or batteries 70′ may selectively (e.g., by actuating a switch, etc.)supply power to the motor 76′ of the hairbrush 10′.

The motor 76′, which may be carried within the head 20′ of the hairbrush10′, may comprise any suitable motor. Without limitation, the motor 76′,when actuated, may include an element that moves laterally. Suchmovement may be oscillatory movement, vibrational movement, or the like.The motor 76′ may be associated with the movable base 78′ (e.g., beneathor behind the movable base 78′, etc.) in a manner that causes themovable base 78′ to move.

The movable base 78′ may comprise a rubber pad that covers a centralportion of the front 22′ of the head 20′ of the hairbrush 10′. Withreference to FIGS. 15 and 18 , the movable base 78′ may includeapertures that receive bases 83′ (FIG. 15 ) of the detangling bristles82′ to hold or secure the detangling bristles 82′ in place relative tothe head 20′. The detangling bristles 82′ may be spaced apart from oneanother a distance that facilitates their movement through certain typesof hair. For example, the detangling bristles 82′ of a hairbrush 10′that is made to be used with coarse, curly hair may be spaced a fartherdistance apart from one another than the detangling bristles 82′ of ahairbrush 10′ that is made to be used with medium hair or than thedetangling bristles 82′ of a hairbrush 10′ that is made for use withfine hair.

As illustrated by FIG. 17 , the stationary base 79′ may be positionedsomewhat over but laterally around the movable base 78′ such that themovable base 78′ is exposed through a center of the stationary base 79′.Further, the stationary base 79′ may be arranged with the movable base78′ in such a way that the movable base 78′ can move in a desired mannerwhile the stationary base 79′ remains in place relative to a remainderof the head 20′ of the hairbrush 10′.

The stationary base 79′ may comprise a rubber pad that covers peripheralportions of the front 22′ of the head 20′ of the hairbrush 10′. Thestationary base 79′ may include apertures that receive bases 85′ (FIG.15 ) of the passive bristles 84′ to hold the passive bristles 84′ inplace relative to the head 20′. The passive bristles 84′ may be spacedapart from one another a distance that facilitates their movementthrough certain types of hair. For example, the passive bristles 84′ ofa hairbrush 10′ that is made to be used with coarse, curly hair may bespaced a farther distance apart from one another than the passivebristles 84′ of a hairbrush 10′ that is made to be used with medium hairor than the passive bristles 84′ of a hairbrush 10′ that is made for usewith fine hair.

As shown in FIG. 18 , due to the relative positions of the stationarybase 79′ and the movable base 78′, the passive bristles 84′ may bepositioned around the detangling bristles 82′. The passive bristles 84′may be positioned on opposite sides of the group of detangling bristles82′. Additionally, the passive bristles 84′ may be positioned adjacentto one or both ends (e.g., a top end, a bottom end, etc.) of the groupof detangling bristles 82′. In some embodiments, a group of the passivebristles 84′ may completely surround the group of detangling bristles82′. As the detangling bristles 82′ move, the passive bristles 84′ mayremain substantially stationary (e.g., they may flex as they are pulledthrough the hair, they may experience residual vibration as the movablebase moves, etc.).

Although this disclosure provides many specifics, the specifics shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of any appended claim, but merelyas providing information pertinent to some specific embodiments that mayfall within the scopes of the appended claims. Features from differentembodiments may be employed in combination. In addition, the scope ofeach appended claim may encompass other, undisclosed embodiments. Alladditions to, deletions from, and modifications of the disclosed subjectmatter that fall within the scopes of the claims are to be embraced bythe claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A hairbrush, comprising: a head with a frontincluding: a front; a back including an indentation that can receive aportion of a finger of a hand of an individual holding the hairbrush; aperiphery between the front and the back and including a recess that canreceive a portion of a finger or a thumb of the hand of the individual;and a base; a plurality of bristles carried by the head and protrudingthe front of the head; a transition adjacent to and continuous with thebase of the head and having a shape that can receive at least one otherfinger of the hand of the individual; and handle adjacent to thetransition.
 2. The hairbrush of claim 1, wherein the periphery of thehead includes two recesses adjacent to and on opposite sides of the baseof the head, a first recess of the two recesses for receiving the fingerand a second recess of the two recesses for receiving the thumb.
 3. Thehairbrush of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a handle recessadjacent to the transition for receiving a portion of the at least oneother finger as the at least one other finger wraps around thetransition and onto handle.
 4. The hairbrush of claim 3, wherein thehandle includes an enlarged middle portion on an opposite side of therecess for receiving a tip of the at least one other finger.
 5. Thehairbrush of claim 1, wherein the handle is coated with a soft-touchmaterial.
 6. The hairbrush of claim 5, wherein at least the back and theperiphery of the head are coated with the soft touch material.
 7. Thehairbrush of claim 1, wherein the indentation and the recess in theperiphery of the head are positioned to enable an individual to firmlygrasp the hairbrush.
 8. A detangling hairbrush, comprising: a head witha front including: a housing including: a front defining a frontopening; a back; a periphery between the front of the housing and theback of the housing; and a base; a movable base in the front opening ofthe front of the housing; a group of detangling bristles carried by themovable base; and a plurality of passive bristles carried by the frontof the housing and at least partially surrounding the group ofdetangling bristles; a motor within the head and associated with themovable base in a manner that selectively moves the movable base and thedetangling bristles carried thereby while the passive bristles remainsubstantially stationary; a handle extending from the base of the headand including: an exterior; and a receptacle that receives at least onebattery and carries electrical contacts for establishing electricalcommunication between the at least one battery and the motor.
 9. Thedetangling hairbrush of claim 8, wherein the motor causes the movablebase to move in a manner that oscillates the detangling bristles. 10.The detangling hairbrush of claim 8, wherein the motor causes themovable base to move in a manner that vibrates the detangling bristles.11. The detangling hairbrush of claim 8, wherein the motor causes themovable base to move in a manner that rotates the detangling bristles.12. The detangling hairbrush of claim 8, wherein: the back of thehousing of the head includes an indentation that receives tips of anindex finger and a middle finger of a hand of an individual holding thedetangling hairbrush; the periphery of the housing of the head includesa recess adjacent to the base of the head that receives and enables aportion of the index finger to wrap around the periphery of the housingof the head and extend to the indentation; and a transition between thehandle and the base of the head has a shape that enables a portion ofthe middle finger to wrap around the periphery of the housing of thehead and to extend to the indentation.
 13. The detangling hairbrush ofclaim 12, wherein the exterior of the handle comprises an enlarged, softbody made to be engaged by a pinkie finger and a ring finger of the handof the individual.
 14. A method for grasping a hairbrush, comprising:placing a finger or a thumb in a recess in a periphery of a head of thehairbrush adjacent to handle of the hairbrush; and wrapping at least oneother finger around the handle of the hairbrush.
 15. The method of claim14, wherein placing the finger or the thumb in the recess comprisesplacing the finger in a first recess on a first side of the head andplacing the thumb in a second recess on a second side of the head. 16.The method of claim 15, wherein placing the finger in the first recesscomprises placing an index finger in the first recess.
 17. The method ofclaim 15, wherein placing the finger in the first recess comprisesplacing a middle finger in the first recess.
 18. The method of claim 14,further comprising: placing another finger in an indention in a backsurface of the head.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein placing theanother finger in the indentation comprises placing an index finger inthe indentation.
 20. The method of claim 14, wherein wrapping the atleast one other finger includes placing a portion of the at least oneother finger in a recess on a side of the handle and resting a tip ofthe at least one other finger on an enlarged middle portion of thehandle.